Struggling with lower level science classes

[GamjaXnamjA]

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i'm taking gen chem 2 and gen bio 2 at the same time right now and they are kicking my ass! Did anyone else struggle with the basic science courses too? Will this impact my future upper level science courses? I heard general science classes can sometimes be harder than the upper level courses, is this true?

 

[ILikeFood]

i'm taking gen chem 2 and gen bio 2 at the same time right now and they are kicking my ass! Did anyone else struggle with the basic science courses too? Will this impact my future upper level science courses? I heard general science classes can sometimes be harder than the upper level courses, is this true?

Gchem 2 is tough. It won't impact ALL of your upper level courses, but the concepts will come up again. And if you're a chem/biochem major, you'll see the Gchem 2 stuff in Chem Analysis.

 

[waitwhat]

F=ma

 

[p30doc]

I heard general science classes can sometimes be harder than the upper level courses, is this true?

Sometimes that is true, sometimes not, depends on the particular course/professor. The pre-req courses are overviews of the field, in biology u have to learn everything from cell structure to fungal reproductive cycles, the upper level ones are nice because it is focused more indepth in one subsection of the field such as microbial genetics. I don't give a rats ass about plant sexual organs, so I was happy to be learning something of interest to me in the upper level courses. Since upper level courses dig deeper and are based on the entry level courses the material is naturally more complex and 'harder', but it depends why it was 'hard' for you in the first place to learn.

 

[JaggerPlate]

F=ma

Gen chem II and gen bio used Newtonian mechanics??? I don't remember that. For me, bio II = systems, gen chem II = stoich and thermodynamics.

And OP ... people struggle with certain things. If you're taking a big load, then that could explain it, or you may just be in two subjects that aren't your thing. Everyone has their weak spots - ochem, physics, gchem etc - but if you start to notice a pattern where ALL lower level science classes kill you ... then you could have a problem.

 

[engineeredout]

The basic science courses are generally designed to weed people out. It'll depend on your school and your program.

For example, my physics I and II were designed to weed out engineering majors, and to this day they are some of the toughest courses I've ever taken.

 

[slim78]

I think I got a B in Gen Chem II and didn't learn a DANG THING (okay maybe I learned SOMETHING... but overall it was not a good experience). When we went over the Pka Ka stuff here in med school I was like "Oh THAT is what they were talking about"

 

[saylorsdad]

My guess is the biggest thing that you learn in lower level sciences is how to study for science. If you suck at memorization, but remember concepts well then you'll have trouble with things such as periodic table, ion names etc. if you suck at math you'll have trouble with those concepts.
Overall you need to spend some time with the material and really get to know it. The time spent now will pay off big time in the near future when you're looking at why that reaction took place "organic chem".

 

[khen7513]

Yeah, I agree with the two posts above me. I know at my school, its to weed people out, because everyone thinks they want to be physical therapists/athletic trainers and as such the classes have a 55% fail rate 😱.

Also, they grade harder so you learn how to properly write lab reports, make observations in lab, generally study better etc. for upper level courses.

Basically, you just get through it.

 

[The Letter J]

The Org Chems were a helluva lot harder than the Gen Chems and Bios at my school.

If you don't do well in a class at first, TRY AGAIN! You'll get it. If need be copy your notes from class every day after you get out. That changed my grades tremendously.

 

[sexyman]

Gen Chem II was one of the hardest classes I have taken in my life (including first block in med school haha)

 

[ILikeFood]

I think I got a B in Gen Chem II and didn't learn a DANG THING (okay maybe I learned SOMETHING... but overall it was not a good experience). When we went over the Pka Ka stuff here in med school I was like "Oh THAT is what they were talking about"

Biochem?

 

[waitwhat]

Gen chem II and gen bio used Newtonian mechanics??? I don't remember that. For me, bio II = systems, gen chem II = stoich and thermodynamics.

And OP ... people struggle with certain things. If you're taking a big load, then that could explain it, or you may just be in two subjects that aren't your thing. Everyone has their weak spots - ochem, physics, gchem etc - but if you start to notice a pattern where ALL lower level science classes kill you ... then you could have a problem.

Skimmed the thread and assumed general physics was in there. Let's not be too critical. Moving on...

 

[zenlike]

Lecture:

You have two options. You can either study harder or, if you're already studying pretty hard, you need to re-assess why you're still not getting it. You may need to radically change your study strategy.

Lab:

Almost every lab you will ever see has been done before and described in detail online. Look the lab up online. Try to figure out what the key points of the lab are and subjects it covers. Write about those subjects in your lab report.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Skimmed the thread and assumed general physics was in there. Let's not be too critical. Moving on...

Just breaking balls ...

 

[GamjaXnamjA]

Lecture:

You have two options. You can either study harder or, if you're already studying pretty hard, you need to re-assess why you're still not getting it. You may need to radically change your study strategy.

Lab:

Almost every lab you will ever see has been done before and described in detail online. Look the lab up online. Try to figure out what the key points of the lab are and subjects it covers. Write about those subjects in your lab report.

thanks, i'll remember that👍

 

[SJonathan]

I STRONGLY disagree with the overall consensus here that general courses are harder than upper division classes. Even if certain lower-level classes are meant to "weed people out" (which I doubt by the way - we have the same rumors on my campus), if you're struggling with them now, you're going to struggle with upper division classes - they don't get any easier. Its not like the idea is "Hey, lets weed out all the people that can't make it through a hard class and then make it easier on them".

If your classes are meant to weed people out and you're one of the students struggling in them, maybe you're one that is being weeded. I'd take some serious time thinking about that. I can promise you that classes won't get any easier as they get more advanced.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I STRONGLY disagree with the overall consensus here that general courses are harder than upper division classes. Even if certain lower-level classes are meant to "weed people out" (which I doubt by the way - we have the same rumors on my campus), if you're struggling with them now, you're going to struggle with upper division classes - they don't get any easier. Its not like the idea is "Hey, lets weed out all the people that can't make it through a hard class and then make it easier on them".

If your classes are meant to weed people out and you're one of the students struggling in them, maybe you're one that is being weeded. I'd take some serious time thinking about that. I can promise you that classes won't get any easier as they get more advanced.

Just my 2 cents.

That really depends though. If you're in a situation where you're a biology major with A's in lower division 1-3, but you SUCK at physics - a pre-med/major requirement- I doubt you'll be bad at upper division anatomy, evolution etc. Everyone has their good and bad subjects, but if you are struggling with all lower divison - as the OP may be - then I do agree with you Jon ... might want to rethink a few things.

 

[khen7513]

I STRONGLY disagree with the overall consensus here that general courses are harder than upper division classes. Even if certain lower-level classes are meant to "weed people out" (which I doubt by the way - we have the same rumors on my campus), if you're struggling with them now, you're going to struggle with upper division classes - they don't get any easier. Its not like the idea is "Hey, lets weed out all the people that can't make it through a hard class and then make it easier on them".

If your classes are meant to weed people out and you're one of the students struggling in them, maybe you're one that is being weeded. I'd take some serious time thinking about that. I can promise you that classes won't get any easier as they get more advanced.

Just my 2 cents.

I do have to disagree with the sentiment that if you struggle with them now, you always will. By taking the lower level science courses, you're learning how to learn science at a collegiate level. IMO, there are 3 groups (ish)

Those who always get the A's througout.

Those who study their butts off, maybe don't get the best grades, but learn from their mistakes and end up doing fine, even great. (example me: my HARDEST B+'s ever, but then always A's)

Those who maybe (but probably don't') study, don't get the best grades, just give up because they realize it's not worth it.... those are the ones who are weeded.


Keep your head up, find out what your struggling with, and work on that.

 

[TheGoodGoodTime]

I disagree.

As school progresses, the 300 and 400 level courses were clearly the hardest at least for me. Microbial Genetics, Microbial Physiology, Immunology, Virology, Molecular Biology, Pathogencity, Human Physiology were all leagues harder than the Bio, Chem, Physics classes...

 

[khen7513]

I disagree.

As school progresses, the 300 and 400 level courses were clearly the hardest at least for me. Microbial Genetics, Microbial Physiology, Immunology, Virology, Molecular Biology, Pathogencity, Human Physiology were all leagues harder than the Bio, Chem, Physics classes...

Maybe I'm just a freak. It's entirely possible. How was microbial phys? that sounds so intriguing!

 

[GamjaXnamjA]

well, I'm not like failing my classes, I just meant that I am spending a LOT more time on them than I ever imagined. Its just that there are so many people REPEATING the gen chem/bio classes because they get C/-'s but do well in the uppper level courses, so I just figured maybe the gen classes were harder in some cases maybe because since we're still freshman/sophomores we don't really have a certain study habit/strategy that works for ourselves so I was wondering if anyone else in this forum also had a hard time with general science courses.

 

[NurWollen]

I feel for the OP. I'm taking Gen Chem II and Bio I right now, I don't know what to think. I seem to be doing better than alot of my classmates, but I'm still doing as well on exams as I would like.

I'm having a much easier time with Gen Chem II than I did with Gen Chem I. The material itself isn't easier, but I'm more used to thinking in chemistry terms.

As for bio, my teacher is known for being pretty tough. The instructor for the lab sits in on the lectures, and says the professor teaching the lecture is teaching (and expecting us to know) stuff that he, the lab teacher, didn't learn until he took upper division molecular biology and cell biology. They're both PhD's, mind you. I guess it depends alot on the teacher.

It also depends alot on study skills. I get distracted sometimes, and take three hours to do something that should have taken one hour.

Hang in there though. They tell me it gets harder

 

[redburns]

I have never posted on this board before, but you kind of sound like your in a situation similar to mine. I started taking my lower level sciences courses in my 3rd or 4th year of college. I had no clue what I was doing and really struggled with a few. Anyways, my suggestion is really evaluate what your study habits are and see if there is some way you can take down the information better. I realized I had to change my whole life style. I used to go out with my friends all of the time and work a ton of hours, because as a history major I was able to breeze through most of courses. So see if you need to change what you are doing outside of school as well. So now for some numbers, I got a C in Gen Chem 1. I got slaughtered, I hadn't taken a science course in 6 years and I thought it would be a breeze. Then I took Physics 1 and Gen Chem 2 at the same time and got a BC and a B respectively. By this point I had cleaned up my act but I still wasn't doing well. I took those courses at a large state university and realized the way the classes were taught was more my problem than my study habits. I finished up my history degree and graduated and then took the rest of my science courses at a small college near my home. I did much better. Bio 1 A, Micro A, Physics 2 B, O Chem 1 & 2 AB.

So the moral of my long diatribe into my college history is you need to look at many aspects of your life if you are doing poorly. Maybe you need a smaller school environment (I am assuming your at a semi large school) or you need to look at your personal habits. But the main thing is to not let a few slip ups get you down. I have had my share of bad grades and I have suffered. I had a very hard time on the Physical Science section of the MCAT because of my lack of knowledge in those areas and I feel it is partly due to the fact that I didn't learn much in my Gen Chem classes. So keep trying as hard as you can. If you get a B so what, you can still get into medical school. If your grades aren't as strong try and get some good experience in the medical field. My GPA is probably lower than most peoples on this board, but I still got into to two schools this year and am waiting on a few more. Anyways keep up with your studying and don't let the pre-med thing consume your life. You will do fine.

 

[GamjaXnamjA]

😀

thanks for the advice and encouragements

and redburns, good luck with your future in medicine!

 

[AgnesWickfield]

Here are my 2 cents:

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on the matter, and many will probably say if you can't handle the lower levels, you will struggle in the upper level courses. I'm an exception to that rule, however, so I want you to know that a rough start doesn't mean it's the end of your medical career.

I received average grades to start off with in classes like Gen Bio, but I ended up with As in P Chem, Biochem, Physics 1 and 2. So, it all depends. For me, the lower levels weren't that difficult, I just was not mentally prepared for them-- I was working 15-18 hrs/week and going to school, full time, while taking Gen Bio and Gen Chem (with labs), and it was not a good idea. I also respond well to greater challenges, so I think the added pressure helped me excel in some upper level courses.

Anyway, good luck to you! And remember that an upward trend is looked upon favorably 🙂

 

[TheGoodGoodTime]

Maybe I'm just a freak. It's entirely possible. How was microbial phys? that sounds so intriguing!

To be completely honest it was the craziest ****ing class I've ever taken. It was taught by my favorite teacher on campus who I had from General Microbiology II. Thing about him is, he is an excellent teacher, but prides himself on giving the hardest exams known to man.

He'll ask how much ATP was generated by 4.5 turns of the Kreb's cycle and assume that we should include GTP into that calculation as well. I'd leave every test really depressed and feeling really ****ty about it (along with everybody else). Wait two weeks for him to grade it. Then get it back with a grade anywhere from 67-75% on it. At the end of the year I ended up with an A- barely (probably due to the lab component pulling me up some), but his curve was ridiculous. Never seen so many 40-50% in my life. Really great guy though.

Overall an excellent course. I learned a lot. Really helped for the MCAT. FWIW I now know have so much random info seared into my memory from this class. Especially everything to do with the citric acid cycle, quorom sensing, fermentation, etc. A lot of biochemistry is involved, but its difficulty really made me learn the material...